Usually imperfect
Some French verbs are nearly always used in the imperfect rather than the passé composé:
- aimer - to like, love
- croire - to believe
- espérer - to hope
- être - to be
- penser - to think
- sembler - to seem
- sentir - to feel
- vouloir - to want
J'aimais danser quand j'étais jeune.
I liked to dance when I was young.
Je croyais en Dieu.
I believed in God.
J'espérais gagner.
I hoped (was hoping) to win.
J'étais heureux l'année passée.
I was happy last year.
Je pensais à mon frère.
I was thinking about my brother.
Il semblait trop parfait.
It seemed too perfect.
Je me sentais malade pendant toute la journée.
I felt sick all day.
Je voulais rentrer après le film.
I wanted to go home after the movie.
However, these verbs are used in the passé composé when there is a clear indication of the beginning or end of the action of the verb, or when it is obvious that this was a simple action that only occurred once.
Je n'ai pas aimé le film.
I didn't like the movie.
Je ne t'ai pas cru quand tu as dit...
I didn't believe you when you said...
Hier, j'ai espéré que tu viendrais ; aujourd'hui, ça m'est égal.
Yesterday I hoped you would come; today I don't care.
Quand je l'ai vu, j'ai été surpris.
When I saw him, I was surprised (just at that moment).
J'ai pensé à une bonne histoire.
I thought of a good story.
Il a semblé disparaître.
He seemed to disappear (all of a sudden).
J'ai senti une goutte de pluie.
I felt a drop of rain.
Tout d'un coup, j'ai voulu partir.
All of a sudden, I wanted to leave.
Go on to page two for verbs with different meanings depending on the tense they are used in, and a list of verbal constructions that are always in the imperfect.
